4 out of 5 Geeks Prefer Macs for their Patients

Just read John Gruber's article entitled Good Times
which has a section about how most people buy computers based on what their
"closest nerd friend" recommends. He's on to something. Granted, I still
think that the number one reason why people choose a computer system is
based on the applications it has. But when your "application needs"
consist of web/email/letters, just about any computer will do.

Once upon a time, i had a hard time recommending anything … I was into
Linux, and its desktop and lack of apps surely didn't lend itself to
setting my Grandmother up on the 'net. Now things have changed …
First, I too, have made the switch and bought a Mac, and I can't recommend
them more to friends and family. Granted, both the desktop and the apps
have improved for Linux over the years, but are still years behind the Mac.

But Gruber posed a question that has got me thinking:

And so the question isn't why don't more people choose Macs, but rather,
why don't more computer nerds choose them?

While I'm sure that Steve Jobs didn't plan on it, making the Mac appeal to
hard-core geeks would actually sell more of their computers. I know
half-dozen people who have bought a Mac partly because of my
recommendation… and I'm just getting started.

Linux took hold of corporate IT purely because it appealed to the geeks
that wanted to use it. Granted, it doesn't have nearly the share of the pie
as another OS, but it is pretty amazing that IBM would invest billions of
dollars towards a free OS. So, maybe I don't agree with all of Gruber's
comments about the situation with IT, but perhaps he is on to something in
regards to using proper motivation.